Quick Overview
- 1#1: Phorest - Phorest delivers advanced marketing automation, SMS/email campaigns, reputation management, and client retention tools specifically designed for salons and spas.
- 2#2: Vagaro - Vagaro offers integrated marketing features like email/SMS blasts, review requests, and social promotions to boost salon bookings and client loyalty.
- 3#3: Mindbody - Mindbody provides robust marketing tools including automated emails, promotions, and analytics to drive salon client acquisition and retention.
- 4#4: GlossGenius - GlossGenius enables salon marketing through targeted email campaigns, waitlist notifications, and review automation for beauty professionals.
- 5#5: Mangomint - Mangomint features modern marketing automation with personalized emails, SMS reminders, and referral programs optimized for salons.
- 6#6: Boulevard - Boulevard offers premium marketing capabilities like dynamic promotions, client segmentation, and integrated payments for upscale salons.
- 7#7: Fresha - Fresha provides free marketing tools such as email/SMS campaigns, Google reviews, and marketplace visibility for salons worldwide.
- 8#8: Zenoti - Zenoti delivers enterprise-grade marketing with AI-driven campaigns, loyalty programs, and multi-location support for large salon chains.
- 9#9: Square Appointments - Square Appointments includes basic marketing features like email reminders, review requests, and promotions for small salons.
- 10#10: StyleSeat - StyleSeat facilitates stylist marketing via a professional booking marketplace, profiles, and client review systems for independent salons.
We selected and ranked these tools by evaluating their core features (automation, reviews, loyalty), usability, reliability, and value, ensuring they cater to salons of all sizes and operational needs.
Comparison Table
Discover a detailed comparison of leading salon marketing software, featuring Phorest, Vagaro, Mindbody, GlossGenius, Mangomint, and more, to understand how each platform aligns with your business goals. This table breaks down key features, pricing models, and user experiences to help you identify the best fit for streamlining operations and driving growth.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phorest Phorest delivers advanced marketing automation, SMS/email campaigns, reputation management, and client retention tools specifically designed for salons and spas. | specialized | 9.6/10 | 9.8/10 | 9.1/10 | 9.3/10 |
| 2 | Vagaro Vagaro offers integrated marketing features like email/SMS blasts, review requests, and social promotions to boost salon bookings and client loyalty. | specialized | 9.2/10 | 9.5/10 | 9.0/10 | 8.8/10 |
| 3 | Mindbody Mindbody provides robust marketing tools including automated emails, promotions, and analytics to drive salon client acquisition and retention. | enterprise | 8.2/10 | 9.0/10 | 7.2/10 | 7.5/10 |
| 4 | GlossGenius GlossGenius enables salon marketing through targeted email campaigns, waitlist notifications, and review automation for beauty professionals. | specialized | 8.6/10 | 8.4/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.2/10 |
| 5 | Mangomint Mangomint features modern marketing automation with personalized emails, SMS reminders, and referral programs optimized for salons. | specialized | 8.6/10 | 8.8/10 | 9.0/10 | 8.2/10 |
| 6 | Boulevard Boulevard offers premium marketing capabilities like dynamic promotions, client segmentation, and integrated payments for upscale salons. | enterprise | 8.4/10 | 8.7/10 | 9.1/10 | 7.6/10 |
| 7 | Fresha Fresha provides free marketing tools such as email/SMS campaigns, Google reviews, and marketplace visibility for salons worldwide. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 7.9/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.0/10 |
| 8 | Zenoti Zenoti delivers enterprise-grade marketing with AI-driven campaigns, loyalty programs, and multi-location support for large salon chains. | enterprise | 8.2/10 | 8.7/10 | 7.9/10 | 7.6/10 |
| 9 | Square Appointments Square Appointments includes basic marketing features like email reminders, review requests, and promotions for small salons. | other | 7.1/10 | 6.4/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.3/10 |
| 10 | StyleSeat StyleSeat facilitates stylist marketing via a professional booking marketplace, profiles, and client review systems for independent salons. | specialized | 7.6/10 | 7.1/10 | 8.8/10 | 7.8/10 |
Phorest delivers advanced marketing automation, SMS/email campaigns, reputation management, and client retention tools specifically designed for salons and spas.
Vagaro offers integrated marketing features like email/SMS blasts, review requests, and social promotions to boost salon bookings and client loyalty.
Mindbody provides robust marketing tools including automated emails, promotions, and analytics to drive salon client acquisition and retention.
GlossGenius enables salon marketing through targeted email campaigns, waitlist notifications, and review automation for beauty professionals.
Mangomint features modern marketing automation with personalized emails, SMS reminders, and referral programs optimized for salons.
Boulevard offers premium marketing capabilities like dynamic promotions, client segmentation, and integrated payments for upscale salons.
Fresha provides free marketing tools such as email/SMS campaigns, Google reviews, and marketplace visibility for salons worldwide.
Zenoti delivers enterprise-grade marketing with AI-driven campaigns, loyalty programs, and multi-location support for large salon chains.
Square Appointments includes basic marketing features like email reminders, review requests, and promotions for small salons.
StyleSeat facilitates stylist marketing via a professional booking marketplace, profiles, and client review systems for independent salons.
Phorest
specializedPhorest delivers advanced marketing automation, SMS/email campaigns, reputation management, and client retention tools specifically designed for salons and spas.
Phorest's Marketing Automation Engine, which uses client behavior data to automatically trigger personalized campaigns, delivering up to 26% revenue uplift.
Phorest is a comprehensive all-in-one salon and spa management platform with powerful marketing tools designed to drive client retention and business growth. It automates personalized SMS and email campaigns, loyalty programs, gift vouchers, and reputation management to boost bookings and revenue. The software integrates marketing seamlessly with booking, POS, and analytics, providing salons with data-driven insights for optimized performance.
Pros
- Advanced automated marketing with AI-driven personalization and segmentation
- Proven revenue growth tools like loyalty programs and reputation management
- Robust analytics and benchmarking against industry peers
Cons
- Custom pricing can be higher for multi-location salons
- Initial setup and learning curve for full feature utilization
- Limited third-party integrations compared to some competitors
Best For
Growing salon chains and independent owners seeking scalable, data-driven marketing automation to maximize client lifetime value.
Pricing
Custom quote-based pricing starting around $200-$300/month per location, including unlimited support and no setup fees.
Vagaro
specializedVagaro offers integrated marketing features like email/SMS blasts, review requests, and social promotions to boost salon bookings and client loyalty.
Vagaro Marketplace, which connects salons directly with new clients searching for local services
Vagaro is an all-in-one salon management platform with powerful marketing tools designed to help salons attract, engage, and retain clients. It offers automated email and SMS campaigns, loyalty programs, promotional offers, and review management to drive bookings and repeat business. The software integrates online booking with SEO optimization and a client discovery marketplace, making it a robust solution for salon marketing.
Pros
- Comprehensive marketing automation including email/SMS campaigns and loyalty rewards
- Integrated marketplace for client discovery and SEO-boosted online booking
- Robust analytics and reporting for campaign performance tracking
Cons
- Higher pricing tiers can get expensive for multi-location salons
- Some advanced marketing features require add-ons or higher plans
- Initial setup for custom campaigns may have a learning curve
Best For
Salon owners and managers seeking an integrated marketing and booking platform to grow their client base efficiently.
Pricing
Starts at $29/month for solo pros (billed annually), with tiers up to $269/month for ultimate plans; additional fees for SMS credits and payment processing.
Mindbody
enterpriseMindbody provides robust marketing tools including automated emails, promotions, and analytics to drive salon client acquisition and retention.
Automated multi-channel marketing with AI-driven personalization and real-time performance insights
Mindbody is a comprehensive business management platform for salons and spas, featuring robust marketing tools like automated email and SMS campaigns, loyalty programs, and online booking integrations to drive client acquisition and retention. It enables personalized promotions, review generation, and performance analytics to optimize marketing ROI. While primarily an all-in-one solution, its marketing capabilities stand out for seamless integration with operational features, making it ideal for scaling businesses.
Pros
- Powerful automated marketing campaigns across email, SMS, and social channels
- Deep analytics and ROI tracking for campaigns
- Seamless integration with salon booking and CRM for targeted promotions
Cons
- Steep learning curve and complex interface for beginners
- High pricing that may not suit small salons
- Custom quotes lack pricing transparency
Best For
Mid-sized salons and spas seeking an integrated marketing solution within a full business management platform.
Pricing
Starts at $139/month for Essentials plan, up to $269+/month for Ultimate; includes per-transaction fees and custom enterprise pricing.
GlossGenius
specializedGlossGenius enables salon marketing through targeted email campaigns, waitlist notifications, and review automation for beauty professionals.
One-tap Boost campaigns that automatically personalize and send promotions using real-time client and booking data
GlossGenius is an all-in-one management platform tailored for salons, spas, and beauty professionals, with robust marketing tools integrated into booking, payments, and client management. It offers automated email and SMS campaigns, loyalty programs, referral incentives, and review requests to drive client retention and new bookings. While not a standalone marketing tool, it excels at streamlining promotional efforts within daily salon operations.
Pros
- Intuitive mobile-first interface simplifies campaign creation and scheduling
- Seamless integration of marketing with booking data for targeted promotions
- Affordable entry-level pricing with strong automation for client engagement
Cons
- Limited advanced segmentation and A/B testing compared to dedicated marketing platforms
- Some premium marketing features locked behind higher tiers or add-ons
- Less customizable templates and reporting depth for larger salons
Best For
Small to mid-sized salons and independent beauty professionals who want integrated marketing without needing a separate tool.
Pricing
Starts at $24/month per location (Essentials), $48/month (Pro), $115+/month (Premier), billed annually; additional transaction fees apply.
Mangomint
specializedMangomint features modern marketing automation with personalized emails, SMS reminders, and referral programs optimized for salons.
Intelligent marketing automations with pre-built workflows for rebooking, birthdays, and abandoned carts
Mangomint is a comprehensive cloud-based salon management software with strong marketing capabilities designed for salons and spas. It enables automated email and SMS campaigns, targeted promotions, client re-engagement workflows, and performance analytics to drive bookings and retention. The platform integrates marketing tools seamlessly with scheduling, POS, and client management for streamlined operations.
Pros
- Modern, intuitive interface with drag-and-drop marketing tools
- Powerful automation for emails, SMS, and client retention campaigns
- Detailed reporting and analytics for marketing ROI
Cons
- Higher pricing may not suit very small salons
- Limited customization in advanced reporting
- Occasional glitches reported in integrations
Best For
Mid-sized salons and spas seeking an all-in-one platform with robust, automated marketing features to boost client acquisition and loyalty.
Pricing
Starts at $165/month (Essentials, billed annually) per location, with Pro at $265/month and Elite at $485/month; custom enterprise pricing available.
Boulevard
enterpriseBoulevard offers premium marketing capabilities like dynamic promotions, client segmentation, and integrated payments for upscale salons.
Advanced client segmentation for hyper-personalized email/SMS campaigns tied directly to booking data
Boulevard is an all-in-one salon management platform with integrated marketing tools tailored for salons, spas, and multi-location beauty businesses. It enables automated email and SMS campaigns, client segmentation based on behavior and preferences, loyalty programs, and detailed analytics to boost retention and bookings. The software emphasizes data-driven marketing to increase revenue per client while streamlining overall operations.
Pros
- Highly intuitive and modern user interface
- Robust marketing automation with segmentation and analytics
- Seamless integrations with payment and booking systems
Cons
- Premium pricing may deter small salons
- Limited advanced customization for marketing templates
- Occasional reports of slower support response times
Best For
Established salons and multi-location chains seeking an integrated platform with strong marketing automation.
Pricing
Starts at $295/month for single-location salons, scales with additional locations and features (custom quotes common).
Fresha
specializedFresha provides free marketing tools such as email/SMS campaigns, Google reviews, and marketplace visibility for salons worldwide.
Global marketplace integration that exposes salons to millions of potential clients searching for local services
Fresha is a comprehensive booking and management platform tailored for salons, spas, and beauty businesses, with integrated marketing tools to drive client acquisition and retention. It offers automated email and SMS campaigns, loyalty programs, promotional offers, and review management to enhance marketing efforts. The platform also connects businesses to a global marketplace for increased visibility, making it easier to attract new customers while streamlining daily operations.
Pros
- Free core platform with no subscription fees for basic use
- User-friendly interface with mobile app support
- Integrated marketing tools like automated campaigns and loyalty programs
Cons
- Payment processing fees (around 2-3% per transaction)
- Advanced marketing analytics are somewhat limited
- Some premium marketing features require add-ons
Best For
Small to medium-sized salons seeking an affordable all-in-one platform that combines easy booking management with essential marketing automation.
Pricing
Free plan with unlimited bookings; premium Fresha Pro plans start at around $10-20/month per location; 2.19% + 20p transaction fee for payments.
Zenoti
enterpriseZenoti delivers enterprise-grade marketing with AI-driven campaigns, loyalty programs, and multi-location support for large salon chains.
AI-powered hyper-personalized marketing campaigns using real-time operational data for precise customer targeting
Zenoti is a comprehensive cloud-based management platform tailored for salons, spas, and wellness centers, with strong marketing capabilities integrated into its operations suite. It enables targeted email and SMS campaigns, customer segmentation based on behavior and purchase history, loyalty programs, and promotional tools to boost bookings and retention. The software also provides analytics for campaign performance and review management to enhance customer engagement.
Pros
- Robust automation for personalized email/SMS marketing
- Seamless integration with salon operations for data-driven campaigns
- Advanced analytics to track marketing ROI and customer lifetime value
Cons
- Steep learning curve for full feature utilization
- High pricing may not suit small single-location salons
- Customization requires support team assistance
Best For
Multi-location salon chains seeking an all-in-one platform with integrated marketing and operations management.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing, typically starting at $250+ per month per location, billed annually with add-ons for advanced features.
Square Appointments
otherSquare Appointments includes basic marketing features like email reminders, review requests, and promotions for small salons.
Integrated online booking widget and automated reminders that turn scheduling into a retention marketing tool
Square Appointments is a scheduling and management platform designed for salons, spas, and service-based businesses, featuring online booking, client reminders, and basic marketing tools like email/SMS campaigns and promotions. It integrates seamlessly with Square's POS and payment systems to handle appointments while supporting client retention through automated notifications and waitlists. As a marketing solution, it offers straightforward tools for no-show reduction and basic outreach but lacks advanced segmentation or analytics. Overall, it's best suited for operational efficiency with light marketing support.
Pros
- Seamless integration with Square payments and POS for a unified client experience
- Automated email/SMS reminders and waitlists that boost retention and reduce no-shows
- Free plan available with essential marketing basics, making it accessible for starters
Cons
- Limited advanced marketing features like customer segmentation or A/B testing
- Marketing analytics are basic, lacking deep campaign performance insights
- Less focused on lead generation compared to dedicated marketing platforms
Best For
Small salons and independent stylists seeking simple, integrated booking and retention marketing without complex tools.
Pricing
Free for single locations (unlimited staff/appointments); Plus at $29/month; Premium custom pricing.
StyleSeat
specializedStyleSeat facilitates stylist marketing via a professional booking marketplace, profiles, and client review systems for independent salons.
The integrated client discovery marketplace that drives organic traffic from local searchers
StyleSeat is a comprehensive online platform primarily for beauty professionals, including salons and stylists, that facilitates booking management, client communication, and payments while offering marketing tools like profile optimization and a client discovery marketplace. It enables users to attract new clients through searchable profiles, customer reviews, promotions, and email campaigns. As a salon marketing solution, it emphasizes organic visibility within its large network rather than advanced automation.
Pros
- Access to a massive built-in marketplace for client discovery and organic marketing
- User-friendly interface with seamless booking-to-marketing integration
- Strong review and testimonial system to build social proof
Cons
- Limited advanced marketing analytics, segmentation, or A/B testing capabilities
- Transaction-based fees can reduce value for high-volume users
- Less flexibility for custom campaigns compared to dedicated marketing platforms
Best For
Independent stylists and small salons seeking easy client acquisition through a ready-made marketplace without heavy marketing setup.
Pricing
Free plan with 20% + $1.99 per transaction; Pro at $39/month (billed annually) for lower fees and extras; All Access at $85/month.
Conclusion
The top 10 salon marketing tools reviewed offer robust solutions, with Phorest leading as the standout choice for its advanced, salon-specific automation and retention features. Vagaro and Mindbody follow closely, excelling in integrated campaigns and analytics, providing strong alternatives based on unique business needs. Each tool demonstrates how modern marketing can boost bookings and loyalty for salons of all sizes.
Don’t miss out—try Phorest today to experience tailored campaigns, seamless client engagement, and the tools that set top salons apart.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison